Jonesboro, AR – JonesboroRightNow.com – Early voting for the preferential party primary election begins next week.

This year’s primary will be a semi-closed primary. The Republican Party of Arkansas voted in June 2025 that registered Democrats cannot vote in its primary, the Arkansas Advocate reported. The Democratic primary remains open, meaning any registered voter, regardless of their registered political party, can vote.

“This is a semi-closed primary, meaning if you are a registered Democrat, you will not be eligible to vote in a Republican primary. If you’re a registered Optional, you have a choice; if you’re a registered Republican, you have a choice in anything,” Craighead County Clerk MaryDawn Marshall said during Monday night’s Quorum Court meeting.

Marshall added that voters have the option to change their registered political party at any time, including when they arrive to cast their ballot.

According to the Arkansas Secretary of State, when voting, voters must declare which party’s primary they wish to vote in. Those not wishing to vote in party primaries can choose to vote in nonpartisan races. This election serves as the general election for the nonpartisan judicial candidates, according to the University of Arkansas’ Public Policy Center.

Voters can only vote in one party’s primary or the nonpartisan ballot. Nonpartisan officials will still appear on a party’s primary ballot. Registered voters can click here to see who will be on their ballot.

| READ MORE: Which candidates will be on the primary ballots in Craighead County?

Early voting begins Tuesday, Feb. 17, and concludes Monday, March 2. Election Day is Tuesday, March 3. The deadline to register to vote in the primary election has passed.

There are two early voting locations in Craighead County for the March 3 election:

• Election Annex: 315 W. Jefferson Ave. in Jonesboro
• Lake City Courthouse: 113 Cobean Blvd. in Lake City

These early voting centers will be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. They will close at 5 p.m. on March 2.

On Election Day, voting will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Polling centers across the county are listed below. Registered Craighead County voters can vote at any location.

Jonesboro:

• Allen Park Community Center: 3609 Race St.
• Earl Bell Community Center: 1212 S. Church St.
• Forest Home Church of the Nazarene: 2403 Ritter Drive
• Fowler Center: 201 Olympic Drive
• Parker Park Community Center: 1506 N. Church St.
• Valley View Church of Christ: 4500 Southwest Drive
• Walnut Street Baptist Church: 1910 Scenic Road

Bay:

• Bay United Methodist Church: 300 Central Ave.

Bono:

• Bono Church of Christ: 101 Craftsbury Lane

Brookland:

• Wood’s Chapel Baptist Church: 175 AR-230

Caraway:

• Caraway City Hall: 102 E. State St.

Cash:

• Cash City Hall: 4391 AR-18

Lake City:

• Lake City Eastern Annex: 113 Cobean Blvd.

Monette:

• Monette Legion Hut: 209 E. Drew Ave.